8 Hurt When Crash Sends Car Into Building On Far South Side

Eight people were injured overnight when a car clipped another vehicle, then slammed into a pole and the front porch of the Jesus in Action Learning Center, 13617 S. Indiana Ave. (Credit: CBS)

UPDATED 07/10/12 6:34 a.m.

CHICAGO (CBS) — Eight people, including three children, were hospitalized Tuesday morning after a car slammed into a building housing a religious organization on the city’s Far South Side.

As CBS 2’s Susanna Song reports, police say a Pontiac Grand Am carrying three people was speeding when it clipped a Chevrolet Trail Blazer car with five people inside near 136th Street and Indiana Avenue, just two blocks from the city’s border with Riverdale, around 9:55 p.m. Monday.

The Pontiac lost control, and first hit a pole. As of 5 a.m. Tuesday, ComEd crews were on the scene because the pole was giving way and needed to be replaced.

The impact also sent one of the vehicles into the front porch of a building on the block. The building at 13617 S. Indiana Ave. houses the Jesus in Action Learning Center.

No one inside was hurt, but eight people in the two separate cars were injured.

Among those in the Trail Blazer that was clipped were a 1-month-old boy, a 3-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy.

Three adults were taken to from the scene in serious-to-critical condition. One was taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County, one to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, and one to Mount Sinai Hospital, fire officials said.

An adult and a child in fair-to-serious condition, as well as an adult and two children in good condition were all taken to MetroSouth Medical Center in Blue Island, Fire Media Affairs told the Sun-Times Media Wire.

Police say as of 5 a.m., no one had been charged or ticketed in the crash. Police say the driver of the Pontiac will likely receive a few traffic tickets, but no criminal charges.

The learning center building did not appear to sustain any structural damage in the crash.